Computerized Network System for Initiating, Facilitating, Auditing, and Managing Communications and Documents Involving Professional Expertise

ABSTRACT

A computerized network links individual lay users, referred to as “standard users,” with qualified professionals in one or more disciplines, such as law, medicine, engineering, accounting and architecture, who are referred to as “participating professionals.” Business entities, such as corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, can also participate as “enterprise users,” with linkage through the network to both standard users and participating professionals. The network enables standard users, participating professionals and enterprise users to communicate, share information, conduct studies, and negotiate and/or create documents relating to the professional disciplines.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Non-ProvisionalApplication No. 16/041,070 (filed Jul. 20, 2018), which claims thebenefit of the filing dates of U.S. Provisional Applications Nos.62/596,192 (filed Dec. 8, 2017), 62/629,354 (filed Feb. 12, 2018),62/632,718 (filed Feb. 20, 2018), and 62/668,496 (filed May 8, 2018),the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the fields of networkeddigital communications and documents and computerized systems forinitiating, facilitating, auditing, and managing such communications anddocuments, and more particularly to applications of such systems tocommunications and documents involving one or more fields ofprofessional expertise.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When a lay person is seeking advice or explanations concerning aprofessional discipline, such as law or medicine, or regarding documentsrelating to that discipline, the time and expense involved in making anappointment with a qualified professional can be an inhibiting factor.Conversely, professionals are often reluctant to give informal advicebecause of potential liability issues involving the content of thecommunications, possible conflicts-of-interest and confidentiality.

While various websites offer information and/or respond to questionspertaining to professional expertise, the ability of the inquirer tointeract in real time with a qualified professional is absent or verylimited. Ethical constraints can also make it difficult forprofessionals to initiate direct communications with members of thepublic with whom they have had no previous relationship.

This state of affairs works to the disadvantage of both inquiring laypeople and potentially helpful professionals. The former are deprived ofinformation vital to their personal and financial affairs, and thelatter lose the opportunity to interact with potential clients orpatients.

The present invention responds to this dilemma by providing anintegrated computerized system using downloadable and web-basedapplication software (“Apps”) to initiate, manage and track exchanges ofinformation and documents between lay users, including both individualand business enterprises, and qualified professionals, as well asbetween and among individual and enterprise users themselves. Thefeatures of the Apps, as described further herein, assure that all suchinteractions proceed in accordance with all applicable legal and ethicalrequirements for obtaining users' informed consent and protecting users'confidential information. Compliance with such requirements isdocumented by an audit trail compiled by the Apps and stored in a systemdatabase for the protection of both participating users andprofessionals, so that impediments to the flow of information andguidance on professional topics are minimized.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The system of the present invention comprises a computerized networkwhich links individual lay users, hereinafter referred to as “standardusers,” with qualified professionals in one or more disciplines, such aslaw, medicine, engineering, accounting and architecture, who arehereinafter referred to as “participating professionals.” Businessentities, such as corporations, partnerships and limited liabilitycompanies, can also participate as “enterprise users,” with linkagethrough the network to both standard users and participatingprofessionals.

For standard users, the system provides a downloadable native User App,which runs on a smartphone, tablet or other personal computing device(hereinafter collectively referred to as a “pc device”). Enterpriseusers participate through a Web App, which runs on a web platformmaintained by the System Server. Participating professionals areprovided with a downloadable native Professional App, which runs on a pcdevice and links to the Web App.

The hardware architecture of the system network 110 is depictedschematically in FIG. 1, which shows the standard user pc devices 111,enterprise pc devices 112, professional pc devices 113, the connectinginternet 114, the System Server 115, and the System Database 115A. Aswill be explained subsequently herein, the system network 110 alsoenables private communications path 116 between a standard user 111 anda professional 113 with whom the standard user 111 has established aclient or patient relationship, so as to protect the confidentiality ofclient/patient information.

The User App provides a top menu comprising a User Login page, a HomeScreen and a User's Tool Menu. The User's Tool Menu comprises optiontabs for Connect, Profile, Files, Upload, Chat, and ProfessionalServices. The Connect option enables standard users to engage with otherstandard users and enterprise users in discussion forums, categorized bytopics and hashtags relating to the relevant professional discipline.Through the Profile tab, users manage their personal settings, as wellas app notifications and alerts.

Under the Files tab, the user can view the status of documents,highlight terms within a document for definition, open a live chat witha professional from within the document, or agree to the document byvoice (VoIP) recording or touch screen confirmation. In the Chat option,users can open a live chat consultation with a qualified professional byselecting a professional discipline and a specialty area within thatdiscipline. The “in-App calling” feature allows the user and/or theprofessional to select a live chat mode of text, VOIP call or videochat. Documents and files relevant to the professional consultation canbe uploaded via the Upload option, and the user can highlight sectionsof a document or file to which their inquiry pertains.

When the standard user shares files and/or documents with participatingprofessionals, the User App advises them of their privacy rights andobtains their informed consent to the information disclosures. Allshared user information and user-professional communications arerecorded and preserved in an audit trail, the immutability of which canbe protected using blockchain technology.

The User and Professional Apps restrict access to shared userinformation and user-professional communications to the respective userand professional and maintain an immutable audit trail of theconfidential handling of such information and communications. In theevent a user enters into a formal client or patient relationship with aparticipating professional, the Apps route subsequent communications andinformation disclosures on a private basis between the user and theprofessional.

The Professional App provides a top menu comprising a Professional LoginPage, a Home Screen and a Professional's Tool Menu. The Professional'sTool Menu comprises option tabs for Web App link, Profile, Files, Chat,and Proposals. The initial Professional Login includes a setup of theProfessional App, which elicits the professional's qualifications,specialty areas, experience, and permissions/licenses, as well asbilling information and terms associated with their participation in oneor more of the service plans provided by the system.

Under the Files option, the professional accesses a list of documentsand files relating to standard users with whom he/she has interacted,sees the status of each document/file, displays the entiredocument/file, and receives prompts for actions required in connectiontherewith. From the Chat tab, the professional accesses an itemized listof chats they have open with standard users and enterprise users(through the Web App). A specific chat item can be selected to open achat window with the respective user. The Professional App incorporatesinformed consent, confidentiality and audit trail features correspondingto those described above with reference to the User App.

Enterprise users access the system network through the Web App, which isalso accessible to professionals. The Web App has a top menu comprisinga Login Page and a Dashboard Main Menu. Initial setup of an enterpriseaccount involves selection of a service plan and associated billinginformation. The Dashboard enables the enterprise user to uploaddocuments, including legal agreements, which are intended for one ormore standard users. The system offers plan services that include staffreview of enterprise documents and identification of problems needingcorrective action. Depending on the selected service plan, documentreview can include consultation with a staff lawyer regarding legalissues pertaining to the document.

The Web App also includes a Group Chat option, through which enterpriseusers can engage in group chats with multiple invited standard users,professionals and/or other enterprise users. The Group Chat optionallows the participants to choose between chat modes of text, VOIP orvideo chat. Invited parties must sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA)uploaded by the initiating enterprise user prior to joining the groupchat. Within the group chat, documents can be shared by the initiatingenterprise user.

The present invention also provides a platform for the initiation ofprofessional services agreements between participating professionals andstandard and/or enterprise users. The User

App and the Web App each have a Professional Services Menu, by which astandard or enterprise user can request that participating professionalssubmit proposals for specified professional services, through aProposals Menu in the Professional App. Conversely, the Proposals Menuof the Professional App also enables the participating professionals tooffer specified professional services at specified fixed fees tostandard and/or enterprise users, who can accept the offers through theProfessional Services Menu of the User or Web App.

The User App and the Web App also incorporate, under the ProfessionalServices Menu, a Proposal Qualification/Evaluation option. In theProposal Qualification/Evaluation option, a standard user or anenterprise user can specify minimum qualifications for participatingprofessionals submitting proposals and/or multiple proposal evaluationcriteria, by which the App can generate a “short list” of qualifyingproposals and/or a ranking of proposals based on the evaluationcriteria.

In many instances, the documents associated with professional servicescomprise forms, which are generated and periodically updated bygovernmental or private entities. The present invention incorporatessoftware which automatically updates all such professional forms, eitherthrough subscription arrangements with the relevant issuing entities orby release-date downloads from the websites of the issuing entities.Similarly, professional services are impacted by changes in regulatoryrequirements and standards. Accordingly, the software system of thepresent invention automatically notifies affected participatingprofessionals of such regulatory changes, which are obtained throughsubscription arrangements with the relevant regulatory andstandards-setting entities or by notice-date downloads from the websitesof such entities.

The present invention enables participating professionals and theirclients to communicate, share information, and negotiate and/or createdocuments relating to the professionals' expertise and services. Itenables auto-completion of forms across multiple professional practicesand seamless referrals between different professional practices througha process which integrates and audits compliance with applicablerequirements of informed consent and confidentiality. It opens acommunication channel, including live chat, between the professionalsand their clients and generates an immutable audit trail of ensuingtransactions and interactions. The system also provides for thesimplification and clarifications of terminology via thesecommunications by providing simple definitions for particular terms withwhich an end user is not familiar.

The foregoing summarizes the general design features of the presentinvention. In the following sections, specific embodiments of thepresent invention will be described in some detail. These specificembodiments are intended to demonstrate the feasibility of implementingthe present invention in accordance with the general design featuresdiscussed above. Therefore, the detailed descriptions of theseembodiments are offered for illustrative and exemplary purposes only,and they are not intended to limit the scope of the foregoing summarydescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the hardware and network architectureof the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exemplary flow chart of one embodiment of the User App ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is an exemplary flow chart of one embodiment of the ProfessionalApp of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary flow chart of one embodiment of the Web App ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 5A & 5B are exemplary wireframes for the “Connect Threads” screensof one embodiment of the User App of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A-6D are exemplary wire frames for the “My Cases” screens of oneembodiment of the User App of the present invention;

FIGS. 7A & 7B are exemplary wireframes for “Live Chat” screens of oneembodiment of the User App of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is an exemplary wireframe for a lawyer's professional home screenin one embodiment of the Professional App of the present invention;

FIGS. 9A-9C are exemplary wireframes for enterprise “Document” screensin one embodiment of the Web App of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exemplary wireframe for an enterprise “Group Chat” screenin one embodiment of the Web App of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is an exemplary flowchart of wireframes forenterprise-to-enterprise referral screens in one embodiment of the WebApp of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary detail of the User App flowchart of FIG. 2,showing the “Professional Services” submenu;

FIG. 13 is an exemplary detail of the Professional App flowchart of FIG.3, showing the “Proposals” submenu.

FIG. 14 is an exemplary detail of the Web App flowchart of FIG. 4,showing the “Studies” submenu;

FIGS. 15A-15C are exemplary wireframes for the “Study Management”screens of one embodiment of the Web App of the present invention;

FIGS. 16A-16C are exemplary wireframes for the authentication of studyparticipants and professionals according to one embodiment of the WebApp of the present invention;

FIGS. 17A-17B depict an exemplary information architecture for anexemplary Studies Menu tailored for clinical trials of newpharmaceutical products;

FIGS. 18A-18C depict exemplary wireframes corresponding to the Q&Acomponent of the exemplary Studies Menu tailored for clinical trials ofnew pharmaceutical products; FIGS. 19A-19C depict exemplary wireframescorresponding to the Messaging component of the exemplary Studies Menutailored for clinical trials of new pharmaceutical products;

FIGS. 20A-20E depict exemplary wireframes corresponding to the Documentscomponent of the exemplary Studies Menu tailored for clinical trials ofnew pharmaceutical products;

FIGS. 21A-21B depict exemplary wireframes corresponding to the Settingscomponent of the exemplary Studies Menu tailored for clinical trials ofnew pharmaceutical products; and

FIGS. 22A-22E depict exemplary wireframes corresponding to the StudyManagement component of the exemplary Studies Menu tailored for clinicaltrials of new pharmaceutical products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, an exemplary flow chart for one embodiment of theUser App 210 is depicted. In the Login screen 211, the standard userlogs in with a username and password, if the user has an existingaccount 212. If not, the user creates a new account 213 214, he/she isguided through setup 216 of the User App 210. Professionals andenterprise users are redirected 215 to the Professional App 310 and theWeb App 410, respectively.

Upon login 211 to an established account 212 216, the User App 210 opensthe Home Screen 217, which defaults to a display of any “Connect” 221chats that the user has opened or participated in. If the user has anyalerts requiring action 218, he/she will select the appropriate option219 from the User's Tool Menu 220 to deal with it. If not, clicking onthe “Connect” button 221 directs the user to an itemized list of topics226 being discussed by other standard or enterprise users. Users cansearch by topic or hashtag for existing topic discussions via a searchbar at the top of the page. Exemplary wireframes for these “ConnectThreads” screens are depicted in FIGS. 5A and 5B. Users can start a newthread 227 by tapping the “Start a new thread” at the bottom of thescreen.

Through the Profile tab 222, users manage their personal settings 228and alerts 229. Here they can toggle alerts from “Connect” 221, “MyCases” 231 and “Chat” 225 on and off. And here they can also access UserApp Support 230, to report problems or upgrade/downgrade their account.

Under the Files option 223, users can look up “My Cases” 231 to viewlegal documents they have signed or need to sign, as well as privategroup chats to which they have been invited by an enterprise user. Legaldocuments are displayed in an itemized list 232 identifying the issuingbusiness name and the date when the document was sent to the user. Uponclicking on any document on the list 232, the user displays the fulldocument 233 and can highlight terms within the document for definitionor open a live chat with a professional, such as a lawyer. If thedocument requires his/her signature, the user can agree to the documentby VoIP recording, touch screen signature, or one touch confirmation.Exemplary wireframes for these “My Cases” screens are depicted in FIGS.6A-6D.

Using the Upload option 224, users can upload scanned or saved files anddocuments 234. The User App provides OCR to convert scanned images intoreadable text. When a user highlights terms in a document 235, the Apppulls definitions from search engines, websites and/or databases anddisplays them. The definition display allows the user to elect a “depth”of definition of the subject terminology, ranging from a briefdictionary-type definition to an expanded analysis of the terminologywith examples of its usage. Optionally, the definition display caninclude an audible narration component explaining the terminology and/oran animation figure or character giving an audible explanation of theterminology. Users can also highlight sections of a document to refer towhile requesting the assistance of a professional 236, such as a lawyer,through the App's Chat feature 225.

Through the Chat feature 225 of the User App 210, users can open a livechat with a qualified professional. The user selects a professionaldiscipline 237, such as law, and then selects a specialty area or topic238 from a list of categories. The user and/or professional can select achat mode 239 of text, VoIP call or video chat. Exemplary wireframes for“Live Chat” screens specific to a lawyer are depicted in FIGS. 7A and7B. With respect to shared user information and communications in theFiles 223, Upload 224 and Chat 225 operations, the User App 210 informsthe user of his/her privacy rights and records the user's informedconsent 240 in an immutable audit trail 241.

Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary flow chart for one embodiment of theProfessional App 310 is depicted. From the Login screen 311, theprofessional with an existing account 312 logs in with a username andpassword. Otherwise, a new account is created 313, and the professionalis guided through App Setup 314, in which profile 315 and billinginformation is supplied and terms of service agreed upon. In eithercase, after Login 311 the App 310 opens a Home Screen 316, whichinitially displays an itemized list of the professional's chats, withthe most recent appearing first. An exemplary wireframe for a lawyer'sprofessional Home Screen is depicted in FIG. 8.

At the bottom of the Home Screen appears the Professional's “Tool Menu”319, which includes links to the Web App 320, Profile 321, Files 322,Chat 323, and Proposals 335. If the professional has any alertsrequiring action 317, he/she will select the appropriate option 318 fromthe Tool Menu 319.

Through the Profile tab 321, professionals manage their personalsettings 324 and alerts 325. Here they can toggle alerts from “Chat” onand off. These alerts comprise new events that arise in one of theirchats, including new chat requests that fall within their area ofprofessional expertise, new messages from existing clients/patients, andVoIP or video chat calling alerts involving existing clients/patients.And here they can also access Professional App Support 326, to reportproblems or upgrade/downgrade their account.

Under the Files option 322, professionals can upload legal documents327, such as attorney retainer agreements which they have extended tostandard or enterprise users who want to contract for their services.They can display an itemized list of time-stamped documents 328,indicating which have been agreed upon by clients/patients and which arestill pending. Upon clicking upon a listed document, full documentsdetails are displayed 329. Professionals can toggle between “agreed” and“pending” to view users who have agreed or not to that document. Theycan also click on “pending” to send reminders to users who have not yetagreed to the document.

Through the “Chat” line 323 on the Home Screen 316, the professionalviews an itemized list 330 of chats they have open with standard andenterprise users. The list 330 shows the user's name and chat topic,along with the first 25 characters of the last message and a time stampof when the message was sent. Clicking on one of these chats allows theprofessional to open a chat window 331 with the user. The professionaland/or the user can select a chat mode 332 of text, VoIP call or videochat. With respect to shared user information and communications in theFile and Chat operations, the Professional App informs the user ofhis/her confidentiality rights and records the user's informed consent333 in an immutable audit trail 334.

The information exchanged and documented in the “Files” and “Chat”section of the App 310 are private and visible only to the followingparties through the following channels:

-   -   1. End User. The end user's files are only visible to their        respective account accessed via their User App username and        password.    -   2. Enterprise Account. All legal documents signed by an end user        can be viewed/stored by the enterprise account that extended the        document for the end user to sign. This includes administrative        accounts for that specific enterprise account.    -   3. Professional. When an end user reaches out for assistance        from a professional, they consent to share their personal        information and information contained in their respective        documents with that professional.    -   4. Group Chats. Group chats are opened only by an enterprise        account. Only other enterprise accounts, professionals and        standard users invited by the initiating enterprise account can        view and access these group chats. Invited parties must sign an        NDA or equivalent uploaded by the initiating enterprise account        prior to joining the group chat. Within this group chat,        documents can be shared from the initiating enterprise account        with the members within the group chat.

Referring to FIG. 4, an exemplary flow chart for one embodiment of theWeb App 410 is depicted. The Login 411 procedures for existing accounts412 and new account creation 413 are followed, and an enterprise accountis Setup 414, with selection of services 415 and billing information.

After Login, the App opens to Dashboard Main Menu 416, with links to theSummary Sidebar 417, Profile 418, Documents 419, Chat 420, andProfessional Services 436. The Summary Sidebar 417 provides alerts fromplan staff regarding potential problems with an enterprise user'scurrent legal documents. The Summary Main Dashboard 421 shows alldocuments 422 sent to standard users for signing, broken down into threecategories: (1) “All” 423, listed with newest first and showing documentname, date sent, username of recipient, and whether the user has agreedto the document; (2) “Agreed” 424, showing only signed documents, withthe newest listed first; and (3) “Pending” 425, showing only documentsthat have been sent to the end user but not signed.

Enterprise users can click on the username to display the document name,the full document, the user's digital signature, a saved VoIP agreement,or a verified one tap agreement. Each of these will display as redprompts if the client has not signed the document via that channel.

From the Profile submenu 418, the enterprise account can manage itsadministrator settings 426 and edit its profile information 427.

The Documents submenu 419 provides a list of all documents 428 uploadedby the enterprise user to be sent to standard users engaged by theenterprise. The document list displays the document name, upload dateand plan status 429. A green indicia indicates that plan staff havereviewed a legal document and found it sufficient to be issued to astandard user engaged by the enterprise account. “Action Needed”indicates that legal issues exist with the document and that a planlawyer should be consulted. Clicking on the document will populate theMain Dashboard 416 with the complete document so that it can be viewed.From the Dashboard 416, live chats with plan staff 430 and/or stafflawyers can be opened. Exemplary wireframes for enterprise “Document”screens are depicted in FIGS. 9A-C.

The Chats submenu 420 provides an itemized list of group chats 431opened by the enterprise account. For each group chat, the App displaysthe group name, start date, time stamp for most recent activity, andactive/inactive status. When a group chat is clicked, the full chatopens in the Main Dashboard 416. Comments are displayed in chronologicalorder, and a text field enables the enterprise account to participate inthe chat. The enterprise account can engage plan staff in one-on-onechat regarding the group chat. The enterprise account can add newparticipants 432 to the group chat and can upload legal documents 433 tothe entire group. The App enables user selection of alternate group chat431 modes comprising text, VOIP or video chat. An exemplary wireframefor an enterprise “Group Chat” screen is depicted in FIG. 10.

With respect to shared user information and communications in theDocument and Chat operations, the Enterprise App informs the user ofhis/her privacy and confidentiality rights and records the user'sinformed consent and NDA agreements 434 in an immutable audit trail 435.

As shown on FIG. 11, the Web App also enables referrals from oneenterprise account to another. In this instance, a medical practice isreferring a patient to a pharmacy business. In the first screen 501, atext box 502 is provided for the referring medical enterprise todescribe the purpose of the referral. A search bar 503 allows thereferring enterprise to search for a pharmacy enterprise to which torefer the patient. The second screen 504 notifies the patient of theproposed referral and elicits the patient's consent 505. If the patientdeclines the referral 506, the referring medical practice can proposeanother pharmacy referral. If the patient accepts, the pharmacy isnotified 507, and verifies whether or not the patient has received theproduct or service 508 509. The process audits and records the patient'sconsent to the referral as well as their satisfaction with the servicesprovided by the referred business.

Referring to FIGS. 2, 4, and 12, exemplary embodiments of the User App210 and the Web App 410 feature a Professional Services submenu 242 436under the Tool Menu 220 and the Dashboard Main Menu 416, respectively.Using these tabs, a standard user or enterprise user specifies theprofessional services 242 436 for which proposals are sought 243 437.Referring to FIGS. 3 and 13, the Professional App features a Proposalssubmenu 335 under the Tools Menu 319, through which participatingprofessionals respond to requests for proposals 336 with responsiveproposals, which are received by the originating User App 244 or Web App438, where the proposals can be accepted 245 439.

Alternatively, participating professionals can use the Professional App310 to initiate offers for specified professional services at specifiedfees 337, which offers 337 are received by standard users 244 with theUser App 210 or by enterprise users 438 with the Web App 410. When sucha professional offer 337 is accepted by a user 245 439, the professionalproceeds through the submenus to formalize a professional servicesagreement 338.

For example, a standard user who is building a new home could solicitfixed-fee proposals from architects to design the home to certainspecifications and could also solicit fixed-fee proposals from attorneysto draft the architectural services contract. The standard user couldalso accept a published fixed-fee offer by an engineering enterpriseuser to design and install a septic system for the new home.

In the User App 210 and the Web App 410, the respective ProfessionalServices submenus 242 436 also include a ProposalQualification/Evaluation option 246 440. The ProposalQualification/Evaluation option 246 440 allows a standard user or anenterprise user to define minimum qualifications for professionals whowant to submit fixed-fee proposals for the specified services. Forexample, a standard user seeking fixed-fee proposals from attorneys torepresent the user in a divorce case could stipulate that proposals onlybe accepted from only certified civil trial attorneys. The App softwarewill then apply the stipulated qualifications to generate a “short list”of qualifying proposals.

The Proposal Qualification/Evaluation option 246 440 also allows astandard user or enterprise user to establish multiple criteria forevaluating professional services proposals. Using such evaluationcriteria, the App software will then rank the proposals based on theevaluation criteria. For example, the standard user seeking a divorcetrial attorney could define evaluation criteria such as: five or moreyears of trial experience, at least ten fully litigated cases, andmembership in the family law section of the state bar association. TheApp software will then assign to each proposal a “grade” of 0 through 3based on compliance with the foregoing criteria.

In some embodiments, the Web App 410 can also include a Studies submenu450 under the Dashboard Main Menu 416, as depicted in FIG. 14. Under theStudies submenu 450, an enterprise user can manage a range of technical,research (including academic and medical), and/or clinical studies, suchas testing of a new product or clinical trials of a new pharmaceutical.

Under the Studies submenu 450, the enterprise user has access to a listof ongoing studies 451, invites participants to the studies 452, andmanages participants 453 and staff 454 associated with the studies. Forexample, through the management of participants, the enterprise cantrack and record compliance with clinical/research guidelines so toreduce the risk of liability arising from non-compliant participants.Exemplary wireframes for study management are depicted in FIGS. 15A-C.

Exemplary authentication wireframes for study participants andprofessionals are shown in FIGS. 16A-C. The authentication process canalso include password-protected permissions for access to study data anddocuments, depending on the role of the participant, staff orprofessional involved. Such permissions can allow designated staffand/or professionals to review data and draft reports relating to thestudies and to edit draft documents, depending on the level ofpermissions.

In the case of studies subject to regulatory review and standards, suchas FDA drug approvals, the software automatically associates therequisite documents and forms with each study category and automaticallyupdates the documents and forms to the latest versions.

As authorized by the supervisor of the enterprise account, the Chatsubmenu 420 of the Web App 410 can be used for communications betweenstudy staff, supervisors, professionals and/or participants. The Chat420 system can be used to track activities of staff and participants,obtain and document required consents 434 and provide audited riskmanagement 435.

Optionally, the Studies submenu 450 can be particularly tailored to therequirements of certain enterprise uses, subject to a commensurate fee.

FIGS. 17A-17B display an exemplary information architecture for aStudies menu tailored to clinical trials of new pharmaceutical products.Corresponding exemplary wireframes for each information component aredepicted in FIGS. 18A-18C, for Q&A, FIGS. 19A-19C, for Messaging, FIGS.20A-20E for Documents, FIGS. 21A-21B for Settings, and FIGS. 22A-22E forStudy Management.

Referring to the foregoing figures, a supervisor of the clinical trialscan invite a standard user to be a participant in the trials, as shownin FIG. 22E, the supervisor and can require a recorded consent from theparticipant, as shown in FIG. 20B and FIG. 22D. The supervisor can editstudy settings to specify allowed communications between participants,as shown in FIG. 19A, and can upload documents to participants,including consent forms and instructions, as shown in FIG. 20B and FIG.20C. Under the Study Management functions, the supervisor can track theactivities of clinical trial participants and staff, as shown in FIGS.22A-22C.

Supervisors, participants and staff can view a list of all clinicaltrials they are involved in. Supervisors can select, add or replacestaff in each of their active clinical trials. The App will provideinstructions to executives of the sponsoring pharmaceutical enterpriseregarding selection of supervisors, staff and professionals for theclinical trial team, based on their credentials and assignment of rolesin the team. Once the team members are selected, their profiles areuploaded to the App and can be viewed by authorized team members. TheApp gives the team members specific instructions as to how to conducttheir respective tasks in the clinical trial. The clinical data iscollected by the App and securely stored in the System Database, withaccess based on team member permissions.

The Studies Management functions can optionally include an expeditedpreliminary product evaluation procedure for critically assessing anddeconstructing a producer's claims as to the therapeutic efficacy and/ormarket potential of a new pharmaceutical or medical device product. Thepreliminary product evaluation procedure generates a plain languageassessment of the producer's claims so as to guide investment choicesand direct funds to the most promising products, where necessaryswitching to surrogate products to replace those which cannot withstandrigorous technical scrutiny. The aim is enable informed decision makingand avoid reliance on claims which ultimately prove to be specious andlead to litigation.

The present invention assures that the most current versions ofprofessional forms are always in use on its platform. Forms associatedwith professional services are automatically updated as of the releasedate of new form versions. This is done either by subscriptionarrangements with the relevant form-issuing entities, or by release-datedownloads from their public websites. For example, a participatingmedical professional would automatically be supplied with the latestversions of HIPAA forms sent by the System Server 111 (FIG. 1) to theProfessional App 310, based on subscription services with state medicalregulatory agencies.

The system of present invention also assures that its participatingprofessionals are promptly notified of any changes in regulations orstandards affecting the services they render to standard and enterpriseusers. The system software receives notices of all relevant changes inregulations and standards through subscription arrangements withregulatory and standards-setting entities or by notice-date downloadsfrom their public websites. For example, a participating physician whohas been consulted by a standard user concerning high blood pressurewould receive notices regarding FDA approvals of new blood pressuremedications.

Although the foregoing embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that many additions, modifications and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An integrated computerized network system whichinitiates, mediates, manages, tracks, records and audits multiplenetwork interactions between and among multiple system users, consistingof multiple individual standard users, multiple enterprise users andmultiple participating professionals, the network system comprising:system software, comprising a system database, a server software, atleast one downloadable native User App, for use by the standard users,at least one downloadable native Professional App, for use by theparticipating professionals, and at least one Web App, for use by theenterprise users, wherein the Professional App links to the Web App;system hardware, comprising standard user pc devices, used by thestandard users, enterprise pc devices, used by the enterprise users,professional pc devices, used by the participating professionals, and asystem server, wherein the user pc devices run the User App, theenterprise pc devices access the Web App, the professional pc devicesrun the Professional App with a link to the Web App, and the systemserver runs the server software, and wherein the system hardware isinterconnected through an internet; wherein the network system enables aprivate communication linkage between any one of the standard users andany one of the professional users with whom the standard user hasestablished a confidential relationship; and wherein the network systemuses a blockchain process to record and preserve all interactionsbetween and among the system users in an immutable network audit trail,which is stored in the system database.
 2. The network system accordingto claim 1, wherein the User App enables each of the standard users toupload or download shared user files and shared user documents to orfrom selected counterparties consisting of one or more of theparticipating professionals and or alternatively one or more of theenterprise users, and wherein the User App enables each of the standardusers to open from within the shared files and the shared documents alive chat with the selected counterparties regarding the shared userfiles and the shared user documents and or alternatively regardinghighlighted sections of the shared user files and the shared userdocuments which have been selected by the standard user.
 3. The networksystem according to claim 2, wherein the User App alerts each of thestandard users to actions required in connection with the shared userfiles and the shared user documents and enables each of the standardusers to view the status of any one or more of the shared user files andthe shared user documents and to agree or consent to any one or more ofthe shared user files and the shared user documents by a voiceconfirmation, by a touch screen confirmation, or by an electronicsignature.
 4. The network system according to claim 3, wherein the UserApp enables each of the standard users to highlight one or more selectedterminologies in any one or more of the shared user files and the shareduser documents, and wherein the User App displays terminologydefinitions for each of the selected terminologies, and wherein the UserApp enables the standard user to select from multiple, progressivelyexpansive levels of definitional depth and to select a definitionalmedium for each of the selected terminologies.
 5. The network systemaccording to claim 4, wherein the Web App enables any one of theenterprise users to upload or download shared web files and shared webdocuments to or from selected web counterparties, consisting of one ormore of the participating professionals, and or alternatively one ormore of the standard users, and or alternatively one or more networkstaff professionals, and wherein the Web App enables the enterprise userto conduct a group live chat among the selected web counterpartiesregarding the shared web files and the shared web documents and oralternatively regarding highlighted sections of the shared web files andthe shared web documents.
 6. The network system according to claim 5,wherein the Professional App enables any one of the participatingprofessionals to upload or download shared professional files or sharedprofessional documents to or from selected professional counterparties,consisting of one or more of the participating professionals, and oralternatively one or more of the standard users, and or alternativelyone or more of the enterprise users.
 7. The network system according toclaim 6, wherein the Professional App enables any one of theparticipating professionals to view the status of any one or more of theshared professional files and the shared professional documents, andwherein the Professional App prompts the participating professional foractions required in connection with the shared professional files andthe shared professional documents, and wherein the Professional Appenables the participating professional to send messages to or engage ina professional live chat with any one of the selected professionalcounterparties with respect to actions required in connection with theshared professional files and the shared professional documents.
 8. Thenetwork system according to claim 7, wherein the User App, the Web Appand the Professional App each use a blockchain process to immutablymonitor, track, record and audit compliance with requirements pertainingto legal and professional standards, confidentiality,conflicts-of-interest and informed consent, and wherein the networksystem compiles and stores an immutable compliance audit trail in thesystem database.
 9. The network system according to claim 8, wherein theProfessional App automatically updates the shared professional files andthe shared professional documents in compliance with relevant changesrequired by governmental and private regulatory entities, and whereinthe Professional App automatically notifies each of the participatingprofessionals of changes in regulatory requirements and standardsaffecting services performed by the participating professional inconnection with the network system.
 10. The network system according toclaim 9, wherein the Web App enables network referrals of standard usersbetween and among the enterprise users and the participatingprofessionals, and wherein the Web App uses a blockchain process toimmutably record and audit informed consent of the standard user to thenetwork referral and satisfaction of the standard user with the networkreferral, and wherein the network system compiles and stores animmutable referral audit trail in the system database.
 11. The networksystem according to claim 10, wherein the User App and Web App enableany one of the standard users and the enterprise users, respectively, toissue a request for proposal (RFP) from qualified participatingprofessionals for specified professional services, and wherein theProfessional App enables the qualified participating professionals tosubmit professional services proposals in response to the RFP.
 12. Thenetwork system according to claim 11, wherein the User App and the WebApp enable the standard users and the enterprise users, respectively, todefine minimum professional qualifications in connection with the RFP,and wherein the User App and the Web App apply the minimum professionalqualifications to the submitted professional services proposals togenerate a short list of qualifying professional services proposals. 13.The network system according to claim 12, wherein the User App and theWeb App enable the standard users and the enterprise users,respectively, to define multiple proposal evaluation criteria forevaluating the qualifying professional services proposals, and whereinthe User Ap and the Web App apply the proposal evaluation criteria torank the qualifying professional services proposals.
 14. The networksystem according to claim 13, wherein the Web App contains a StudiesModule, which enables any one of the enterprise users to manageenterprise studies comprising technical, research, academic, medical,pharmaceutical, and or alternatively clinical studies, including newproduct testing and clinical trials of new pharmaceuticals.
 15. Thenetwork system according to claim 14, wherein the Studies Module enablesthe enterprise user to access a list of ongoing enterprise studies, toinvite study participants, study staff and study professionals to anyone of the enterprise studies, and to manage the study participants, thestudy staff and the study professionals, and wherein the Studies Moduleuses a blockchain process to immutably monitor, record, track and auditcompliance with applicable regulations and guidelines, and wherein thenetwork system compiles and stores an immutable studies audit trail inthe system database.
 16. The network system according to claim 15,wherein the Studies Module incorporates an authentication process foraccess to study data and study documents, based on respectivepermissions associated with the study participants, the study staff andthe study professionals.
 17. The network system according to claim 16,wherein the Studies Module incorporates a compliance process, whichautomatically updates relevance regulatory requirements, standards,guidelines and forms, associates requisite study documents and requisitestudy forms for each of multiple study categories, and automaticallyupdates the requisite study documents and the requisite study forms tocurrent versions.
 18. The network system according to claim 17, whereinthe Studies Module incorporates a live chat function, which enablescommunications between and among the study participants, the studystaff, the study professionals, and one or more study supervisors, andwhich tracks activities of the study participants, the study staff andthe study professionals, and which obtains required informed consentfrom the study participants.
 19. The network system according to claim18, wherein the Studies Module uses a blockchain process to immutablymonitor, record, track and audit the authentication process, thecompliance process and the live chat functions, and to provide auditedrisk management, and wherein the network system compiles and stores animmutable risk audit trail in the system database.
 20. The networksystem according to claim 19, wherein the Studies Module providesinstructions to the enterprise users regarding credentials-basedselections of multiple studies team members comprising the one or morestudy supervisors, the study staff and the study professionals, andwherein profiles of the studies team members uploaded to the Web App canbe viewed by authorized studies team members, and wherein the StudiesModule provides specific instructions to the studies team members as tohow to conduct assigned tasks in the enterprise studies.
 21. The networksystem according to claim 20, wherein the Studies Module incorporates anexpedited preliminary product evaluation procedure for testing andclinical trials of a new pharmaceutical or medical device product, andwherein the preliminary product evaluation procedure develops, on anexpedited basis, a plain language assessment of a therapeutic efficacyand a market potential for the new pharmaceutical or medical deviceproduct based on a critical analysis and a deconstruction of aproducer's claims relating to the therapeutic efficacy of the newpharmaceutical or medical device product.
 22. The network systemaccording to claim 21, wherein the preliminary product evaluationprocedure further develops, on an expedited basis, recommendationsregarding investment in further evaluation, testing and trials of thenew pharmaceutical or medical device product, as compared withalternative investments in one or more surrogate pharmaceutical ormedical device products.